NASA Ready to Roll Out Experimental X-59

Here's when the aircraft designed to help shape possible future commercial supersonic flight will be revealed at Lockheed Martin's Skunk Works facility.

Kimberly Johnson

Friday, January 05, 2024 at 12:21 PM ET

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Artist's concept of the X-59 quiet supersonic aircraft that NASA and Lockheed Martin Skunk Works will unveil on Friday, January 12. [Courtesy: NASA]

Key Takeaways:

NASA's X-59 Quiet SuperSonic Technology (QueSST) experimental aircraft is set to be unveiled on January 12th at Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works factory.
The X-59 is designed to reduce the sound of a sonic boom to a "gentle thump," aiming to collect data to inform future regulations for commercial supersonic flight over land.
The aircraft's first flight, initially scheduled for 2023, has been moved to 2024 to allow for full system integration and resolution of technical challenges.

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NASA is preparing to soon unveil its low-boom supersonic experimental aircraft, the X-59, at Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works factory in Palmdale, California.

The one-of-a-kind X-59 Quiet SuperSonic Technology (QueSST) experimental aircraft is part of NASA’s Low Boom Flight Demonstration project aimed at collecting data to help shape regulations for possible future commercial supersonic flight over land.